MEP Welcomes Low-Cost Driver-Friendly Clean Car Technologies

COVENTRY – UNITED KINGDOM – March 16, 2009: West Midlands MEP and automotive industry advocate Malcolm Harbour visits new technical centre in Coventry; experiences low-cost driver-friendly clean car technologies being developed by Controlled Power Technologies; applauds application of high level engineering skills to deliver green vehicles that motorists will want to drive

The development of low cost CO2-reducing vehicle systems by Controlled Power Technologies (CPT), whose low carbon technical innovations enhance rather than detract from the driving experience, have been applauded by Malcolm Harbour, a Conservative Member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands and vice-chairman of the European Parliament’s science and technology policy unit.

“The direction of this work is crucial, its funding is important and we need to do everything we can to encourage more technology companies like this one,” said Harbour, a qualified engineer with wide experience of the automotive sector and a member of the CARS21 (Competitive Automotive Regulatory System for the 21st Century) High Level Group, established by the European Commission to develop an integrated strategy for the industry.

Following a drive of demonstrator vehicles equipped with a fast-acting electric supercharger and ultra-reliable and near-instantaneous stop-start system, both featuring highly efficient and controllable electric motor technology, he added: “With all the attention being given to the world slump in car sales, it’s good to see that behind the scenes the development of new technology is alive and kicking in the UK’s automotive heartland. Affordable technology is much needed by the global motor industry to help reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions, but it has to work without destroying the driving experience; what really impresses me about CPT is its application of high level engineering skills to deliver green vehicles that motorists will want to drive without detracting from the driving experience.”

During the visit to the company’s new technical facility in Coventry, CPT chief executive Nick Pascoe discussed with the MEP the development of smaller more efficient engines, which driven by tighter emissions legislation and new CO2 targets, required micro-hybrid technologies that can also deliver a no-compromise driving experience.

“We have combined robust electric motor technology with affordable state-of-the-art electronics that use current vehicle electrical and control systems to achieve a better driving experience, whilst also reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions,” said Pascoe. “The electric supercharger boosts the engine’s performance at low engine speeds without any ‘turbo lag’, allowing a smaller engine and higher gearing to be part of the vehicle’s specification, whilst giving the vehicle a big engine feel. Small engines and higher gearing both reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions, but the real issue when downsizing engines is that drivers must feel confident that they can still keep up with the flow of traffic.